Men's Health

Sex and the Older Man: Age No Barrier for Many

Many men 75 or older are still sexually active, including about one in 10 men ages 90 to 95.

That’s the conclusion of a study of nearly 2,800 older Australian men, most of whom were married or living with a partner.

In the study, 40 percent of men ages 75 to 79 said they'd had sex at least once in the last 12 months. But even among those 90 to 95, 11 percent reported sexual activity with someone else over the last year.

And many who are sexually active say they'd love to be having more sex. Others are forgoing sex because of health issues, low testosterone levels, or a lack of partners.

Sex 'still important'

"Although many people, including some clinicians, continue to believe that sexual activity is not important to older people, our study shows this is not the case,” says lead author Zoe Hyde, MPH, at the University of Western Australia.

Overall, nearly half of the men in the study said they considered sex at least "somewhat important.”

The study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Illness an obstacle

Health problems appeared to be the main reason that some older men aren’t sexually active, Hyde says.

Among the health problems identified were lower testosterone levels, osteoporosis, prostate cancer, and use of certain medications that affect sexual performance. Lack of a partner and a lack of a partner’s interest in sex were other reasons.

Different issues for women

As for older women, studies have suggested that pain and lack of satisfaction are major issues for them, says Stacy Tessler Lindau, M.D., at the University of Chicago. "If men are having sex, they report satisfaction,” she says. “That's not necessarily true for women."

Dr. Lindau conducted a 2007 study of older adults and sexuality. She found that only 17 percent of women ages 75 to 85 reported having sex over the last year, compared with 39 percent of men.

"We know that sexual activity is associated with good physical and mental health,” she says. “Whether good sex promotes good health or vice versa is still a good question. But if we fail to recognize older adults as having sexual lives, then we fail to engage them on the topic, reinforce positive sexual experiences or help them address sexual problems when they arise."

Always talk with your health care provider to find out more information.

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February 2011

Impotence Common but Treatable

Nearly all U.S. men have occasional impotence. The condition, also called erectile dysfunction, is treatable in most cases.

Many times impotence has a physical cause, such as a problem with circulation or nerves. It can also be a symptom of a more serious medical problem, such as arteriosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes.

These are other causes of impotence:

• Prostate cancer surgery, which can affect nerves

• Reaction to prescription medications for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression, and other conditions

• Heavy smoking, alcohol, or recreational drug use

• Accident or injury to the penis

• Psychological problems, such as depression, stress, or anger

If you are experiencing impotence, talk with your health care provider to find out what treatments might be best for you.

Always talk with your health care provider to find out more information.